THE Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), in collaboration with several Community Development Councils (CDC’s) in North and South Ruimveldt, will soon begin the rollout of several drainage rehabilitation projects to mitigate the effects of seasonal flooding in the area.
This intervention comes a week after President Dr. Irfaan Ali made an impromptu visit to the south Georgetown communities.
On Monday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapaha, met with several residents from the communities at the Ministry, where he disclosed that $55M would be expended for cleaning and other rehabilitation works on the drains in the communities.
“…We will ensure that we carry out these works. We will ensure that it happens and is done in the proper way,” Mustapha said.
The Minister disclosed that works would begin as soon as Wednesday, following the signing of contracts between NDIA and the residents who will be hired to spearhead the projects.
“I want this work to commence very shortly, within one or two days. You in the community are beneficiaries, and you all are included…the primary function is to ensure that we try to resolve the problems that have existed in that area for a long time.”
Currently, Minister Mustapha said Guyana is experiencing unusual amounts of rainfall in what should have been the usual dry season. However, due to the effects of climate change the rainy season has been prolonged, resulting in water accumulation and flooding in some parts of the country.
“Climate change is real now; this is the end of July, which is supposed to be the driest month of the year, but we are having flood all the time not only in Georgetown but all around the country. And the forecast for the next two days, [says] we will have the same high-intensity rainfall so we are seeing this all over the country.”
He further explained that the country’s drainage system is built to drain approximately two inches of water in 24hrs, and flooding occurs with water levels exceeding the said amount.
“We used to have seven inches of rainfall in a month, and now we have seven inches of rainfall in two hours, and the drainage system is not capable of taking off those kinds of heavy water.”
Despite this, Mustapha urged residents to work in unison with the government to mitigate the heavy rainfall and flooding effects.
“…I trust you all, and I want us to form a partnership to get the work done because when the rain falls now, everybody is suffering.”
Meanwhile, Andrew (only name given), a resident from Upper North Ruimveldt, told the Guyana Chronicle that works were previously done in parts of the community which had seen some ease in the flood situation; however, the recent rainfall has resulted in more flooding.
“So far, they are paying some interest to the community. We had some little cleaning some months ago now they coming and do the whole area and I feel good about it. About a year ago, the last government had done some work, and the flood had eased, but from then to now, it is going up back, so it needs to be redone again.”
The man further noted that residents would have raised several other issues during a series of meetings with government officials, and he was glad they were being addressed.
“We got some road issues with a lot of potholes, but they made a suggestion that they want the drains to do first and then they are goning do the roads.”
Mr. Leon Muir from Greenheart Street in South Ruimveldt expressed his delight with the involvement of the residents in the rehabilitation works.
“It’s good that the community can be a part of something like this and even earn from it. It’s a good thing to have people involved in this context,” Muir said.
